Prometheus 6

Ms. Johnston, who was at least 88 years old, was killed in a barrage of gunfire after narcotics officers burst through the front door of her home without warning last Nov. 21. Apparently fearing for her life, Ms. Johnston, who lived in a high-crime neighborhood, met the officers with a gun.

Immediately after the raid, Alan Dreher, the assistant chief of the Atlanta Police Department, defended the officers involved in it, saying they acted “by the book” when they stormed Ms. Johnston’s home looking for someone at that address they said had sold crack cocaine to a confidential informant.

But according to a proposed indictment written by Paul Howard, the Fulton County district attorney, no informant ever went to Ms. Johnston’s house.

3 Officers Indicted in Drug Raid Death
By BRENDA GOODMAN

ATLANTA April 26 — A Fulton County grand jury has indicted three current and former police officers who were involved in botched drug raid that led to the death of an elderly Atlanta woman in November.

Officer Jason R. Smith, who is on administrative leave from the Atlanta Police Department and Gregg Junnier, who retired from the force in January, face the most serious charges.

Mr. Smith is charged with four counts of murder, two counts of making false statements, two counts of burglary, violation of oath by a public officer, criminal solicitation, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and false imprisonment under color of legal process and perjury.

Mr. Junnier is charged with three counts of murder, two counts of burglary, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, violation of oath by a public officer, criminal solicitation and making false statements.

Officer Arthur Tesler, who is also on administrative leave, is charged with violation of oath by a public officer, making false statements and false imprisonment under color of legal process.

William McKenney, a lawyer defending Mr. Tesler, said today that his client will not plead guilty to any charges and planned to take his case to trial.

Mr. Smith and Mr. Junnier are expected to enter guilty pleas this afternoon in exchange for their cooperation in a continuing federal and state investigation.